Antisnoring device.



G. H. WILSON. ANTISNORING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. I915.

Patented Feb.12,1918.

I i I I I I/ I/ l 4/ WITNESSES: lNl/EII/TOR m/ye 1] 141/501,

enonen H. WILSON, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Au'rrsnomne DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. f2, 1918.

Application filed December 22 1915. Serial No. 68,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. VILSON', a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Antisnoring Devices, of which the following is'a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for preventing snoring or mouth breathing, it being relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, easily applicable to the nostrils, and when in use, it holds the nostrils expanded sufiiciently to afford free and ample passageways for natural breathing, without, however, causing any discomfort to the person using it.

To this end, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a. diagrammatic view showing a. device embodying the present invention in the position it occupies when applied to the nostrils.

Fig. 2 shows the device when not applied to the nostrils.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The device, as shown, comprises a pair of tubular sleeves 1 and 2, and an intermediate flexible or elastic connection 3. The device is preferably constructed from a single piece of flexible or elastic pliable material such, for example, as soft rubber. The connection 3 preferably joins with the sleeves at the lower inner sides thereof, and the upper ends 4 and 5 of the sleeves are cut on diagonal lines which diverge as they proceed from the adjacent sides of the sleeves which are joined by the connection? Preferably, the upper ends 4 and 5 of the sleeves are cut on diagonal lines to the axes of the sleeves to hold the sides of the nostrils expanded. The lower ends 6 and 7 of the sleeves are also preferably cut on divergent lines, they being substantially parallel to the lines 4 and 5 defining the upper ends of the respective sleeves to render the device inconspicuous while in use and to facilitate gripping of the connection by the fingers while inserting and removing the device. The

sleeves 1 and 2 are preferably so made that they have an inherent tendency to assume and maintain a cylindrical or round form, although they are capable of being flattened, more or less, by the nostrils, as may be necessary for the sleeves to accoimnodate themselves to the shape of the nostrils. In applying the device to the nostrils, the flexible connection 3 between the sleeves, which connection is doubled or folded at av point midway of the length of the device, as shown in Fig. 2, is held by gripping the same between the fingers, and while so held, the sleeves are introduced into the respective nostrils and brought into the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The flexible elastic or pliable nature of the sleeves enables them to conform to the shape of the nostrils, without, however, presenting a rigid or hard surface which would cause discomfort. The corners 8 and 9 formed between the outer sides of the sleeves and the diagonal upper ends 4.- and 5 thereof engage and thereby prevent collapsing of the relatively thin sides of the nose, and they also press against these portions of the nose under the elastic action tending to straighten the conncction 3, whereby the device is held firmly in position. Fig. 1 shows approximately the form assumed by the sleeves when the device is applied to the nostrils, the substantially fiat connection between the sleeves lying in close relation and conforming subsantiallv to the shape of the lower edge of the cartilage of the nose. In order to secure the necessary elastic action in the connection tending to expand or spread apart the upper ends of the sleeves and thereby expand the nostrils as well as hold the device in place, this connection may be and preferably is formed with a concave shape or groove, as indicated at 10. It is also preferable to so form the device that before insertion it will be somewhat wider than the nostrils, and hence when inserted the sleeves will tend to spring outwardly, thus holding the nostrils fully expanded.

By constructing the device of a single piece of flexible elastic or pliable material, such. for example, as relatively soft rubber, the device can be constructed inexpensively, it possesses the advantages above described while in use, and it also may be easily and effectively washed or sterilized. The device is preferably made by casting 01' molding it the nostrils for areventin snorin or mouth breathing formed from a single piece of soft flexible material and comprising tubular sleeves, and a reduced connection joining the lower ends of the sleeves at the adjacent l9 sides thereof and acting with a tendency to spread apart the upper free ends of the sleeves.

2. A device of the character described composed of soft elastic material and comprising a pair of sleeves, and a flexible connection joining the lower ends of the sleeves at the adjacent sides thereof, said connection being grooved longitudinally and acting with an inherent tendency to spread apart the upper ends of the sleeves.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE E. WILSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. \V. FIEDLER, D. S. ROCHE.

' flames 02 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington. D. Q. 

